Pritzker signs BIPA update, 'justice-impacted individual' measure, 57 other bills

[August 03, 2024]  By Greg Bishop | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Dozens of measures impacting employers, education, health care, criminal justice and more are now law after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted 59 bills Friday.

The Illinois General Assembly approved more than 450 measures during spring session that ended in May. Pritzker has been holding bill signing ceremonies for some measures, but others are announced enacted in news releases.

Late Friday, Pritzker’s office announced the signing of 23 House bills and 36 Senate bills.

A much anticipated measure bringing changes to Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act is now law. Effective immediately, Senate Bill 2979 expands the definition of written release to include electronic signatures and would make multiple violations of BIPA a single violation if committed against one individual. Business groups sought such changes following several high-profile lawsuits against employers.

State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, said Illinoisans biometric data will still be protected.

“But it adds much needed clarity that helps small businesses operate in a more predictable regulatory environment,” said Rashid when the measure passed. “I know that many small business owners will be relieved to see this measure pass.”

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, House Bill 3763 allows employees to request from employers contracts, policies, handbooks, press releases, discrimination reports or any similar documents about the employee.

In the criminal justice space, House Bill 4409 grants Adult Redeploy Illinois more flexibility in funding allocation through its grant awards and adds more people to an oversight board. The measure drew controversy when it passed after it was revealed the definition of participants in the Adult Redeploy Illinois program would change. Beginning Jan. 1, the law changes the word "offender" to "justice-impacted individuals."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is watched by legislative leaders and advocates during a bill signing.
BlueRoomStream | Contributed photo

Measures impacting education include House Bill 307 that expands the opportunities for student athletes to receive compensation in Illinois. That takes effect Jan. 1.

Senate Bill 2872, which also takes effect Jan. 1, allows school districts to provide relaxation activities to students.

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, said the legislation will make school districts vulnerable to lawsuits as was the case in Chicago where a transcendental meditation program drew controversy.

“This is a very bad idea,” said Wilhour. “There are already cases where situations like this have been abused. The Chicago Public Schools have paid money to negate this very issue.”

Senate Bill 2934 impacts laws around hazing that says starting Jan. 1, consent or permission from the hazing victim does not absolve the perpetrators from persecution for hazing.

For legislation becoming law impacting health care, House Bill 4874 prohibits pharmacists from refusing to fill a valid opioid prescription solely because it’s not prescribed electronically. That’s effective immediately.

Group insurance plans regulated by the state must cover IVF services and annual menopause visits beginning Jan. 1, 2026 with Senate Bill 773. Also effective Jan. 1, 2026 is Senate Bill 2672 which requires insurance companies to cover brand-name drugs if there’s a shortage of the generic version.

Effective immediately, Senate Bill 2573 requires insurance coverage for wigs worn due to hair loss caused by alopecia, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, effective Jan. 1, 2025.